Officials at Cheboygan County state parks are reporting that camp nights are up over last year, and all are expecting full campgrounds for the traditional end-of-summer getaway this Labor Day weekend.
Burt Lake State Park supervisor Kelly Kinser said camp night attendance numbers are increased 700 over last year at the campground with 2,000 feet of sandy shoreline on the southeast corner of Burt Lake. The park covers 406 acres.
“It's been a very good summer for us. It's been a great summer for boating,” said Kinser.
Kinser said reservations are booked Friday-Sunday this weekend, with the exception of a few first-come, first-serve sites, which she said will go fast.
“Right now it's feeling really busy,” said Kinser.
Most state park visitors in Cheboygan County rein from Michigan, but area park officials do report a fair number of visitors from Canada and neighboring states Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio. Persons can check on availability in all state parks in the case of cancellations at 800 44-PARKS.
Burt Lake State Park employs up to 20 during the season. It has 305 campsites and one mini-cabin. All sites have electrical capacity with 20, 30 or 50 amp access. The full-full service park also has a water sanitation station and restroom and shower facilities.
During the height of the season, Kinser said the park hosts some special activities, but those events are winding down with the end of the season in sight. She added park officials are looking forward to the new path development that will border the park along S. Straits Highway as part of the township's Safe Routes to School Pathway project.
Just around the bend at the Tip of the Mitt is the vast Wilderness State Park encompassing 10,500 acres with 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Park supervisor Burr Mitchell said the camp night numbers are about 100 ahead of last year, with cabin nights and stays at the group camp location running about dead even with last year. Day use was a little down this year, but Mitchell attributes the unusually warm weather in the spring of 2012 to that year's higher numbers.
The park, which employs about 19 during the season, has 250 sites all with 20 or 30 amp electrical access and restroom and shower facilities. There are six rustic cabins and a group camp where a minimum of five campsites must be taken together by one party. The group camp is used by youth groups and other organizations and sometimes for private parties such as a wedding celebration.
Park ranger Pam Rhine said the weekend sites are full with the exception of a few first-come, first-serve sites. She said Labor Day weekend is always a great time at the state park. “We have a talent show every year. We have found we have some amazing talent in the park. It's a lot of fun.”
“It's been a very busy summer,” said Rhine. “This week we saw a slowdown, but its just been one week. Usually we start to notice it a week earlier.”
Burr said the park is a popular site for its fall festival Sept 27-29, with a variety of events throughout the weekend.
Cheboygan State Park sits among 1,250 acres just off of U.S. 23 south of the city. Known for its extensive and well-marked trail system, the park is largely wooded with grassy dunes and beach access along Lake Huron.
Summer ranger Steve Grantner said camp night numbers are running comparable to last year or just a little bit ahead. “The weather could've been a little warmer. Our day use was a little down in the beginning,” said Grantner.
The park, which employs 11, is filled for the upcoming weekend with 75 campsites all offering 20 amp electrical service. Five sites are set aside for first-come, first-serve. The three cabins also are filled, as they typically are year-round.
He said last weekend's triathlon in the park was down from previous years, but remains a popular event in its fourth year. The event includes a two-mile kayak leg, an eight-mile bike race and a 4.5 mile run.
Grantner said the recreational passport available for $11 with state vehicle registration allows entry into all state parks and has helped increase traffic since it was implemented. He said for those who didn't acquire one when registering their vehicles, a passport sticker can be purchased at the park for the windshield.